Trashball 072907: Mouth Gag

Just what I needed to see, this alarmingly accurate mold of someone's unusually bad teeth. I've actually had it for a while, but was loathe to remove it from its box until now. Still, it gives me the creeps.

Things to Love and Loathe About America

Came across this thoughtful list on a New Zealand Blog called "Statistically Improbable Phrases" (by which I suppose he means sentences like "The badger, stealing quietly across Grand Central, shuttered the blinds and settled down with my second cousin to perform a plangent reading of The Badger Stole Quietly Across."

Naturally, and justly, there was this list, too.

Trashball 072907: Ballot Problems

This is simply an impossible task. I say, how am I meant to winnow down five candidates when I'm required to vote for all five? Truly, the only name of the five Community Member pols I can vote for in good conscience is Slater; Cashell has bad breath, Daily spends far too much time with my daughter, Reagh once lifted my wallet, and Dr. Stiefel is spotty.

As for the Active Members, I suppose I can see my way clear to ticking the Pickett box, despite his long-winded ruminations on the Coolidge administration.

Trashball 072907: Your Motorcar, Sir

A bill of sale for a 1936 Ford Touring Tudor (here's a pic). Not too bad, coming in at $720.73. Still, that's more than I've paid for most of the cars I've owned. Recovered from the aforementioned estate.

Trashball 072907: The End of a Logo

This was 1936, so I'm sure the good folks down at Sloan Auctioneers were soon forced to drop their otherwise serviceable logo. Along with their inch-wide moustaches. Recovered from the aforementioned estate.

Trashball 072907: But Where's Potsie?

Anson Williams might be missing, but we have a good fledgling cast here for Happy Days. More fun '50s snaps recovered from a Washington, DC, estate before it went to the dump. I love the girl smoking the cigarette (and it was her estate).

Trashball 072807: Satisfactory Binders

I am completely enamored of the politeness shown in this 1937 letter, all for the banal purpose of ordering new binders for the writer's collection of Readers Digest magazines. A little stiff, a little formal, but entirely charming. Plus, the writer saved a carbon copy of the letter for his records!

Recovered from a Washington, DC, estate before it went to the dump.

Trashball 072807: Dick Lee vs. Jim Busby

This guy on the left, Dick Lee, for some reason felt it necessary to autograph not only his own cheesy photo (kinda looks like a real schmendrick), but also the photograph of Washington Senators' player Jim Busby, already signed by Busby.

Recovered from an old shoebox from a Washington, DC, estate.

Trashball 072407: Riding the Short Bus

These kids are definitely not on the way to a spelling bee.

Actually, this charming rendition was made by my beloved work partner, Edwin Benitez, this afternoon during a rare bit of downtime on the dump truck. Edwin is 24, but already showing signs of the great French painter Jean Dubuffet

Trashball 072207: Santa Is a Miserable Dog

One of my favorite finds ever. Recovered most recently in my studio, but originally recovered in, I think, Hollis, Oklahoma.

Trashball 072207: Going on a Hayride

Letter fragment recovered in Fairfax, VA.

Trashball 072207: The Land of Flush Toilets

Letter fragment recovered on 33rd St., NW, in Washington, DC.

Trashball in the News: Voice of America

Well, here's another outing for the remarkably un-telegenic Christopher Goodwin.

Trashball 070707: Alley King

Flat metal crown (about 2 inches wide) found in alley behind the 1700 block of Swann St., NW, in DC. One of my favorite finds.

Trashball 070707: Bombay Mystery

What did this small packet contain? And who's that handsome fella featured on it? Recovered on R St., NW, in DC.

Trashball 070707: Ask for Amy

I remember wanting a bike with streamers and a banana seat. All I had to do was sell thousands of greeting cards to my neighbors. I never got very far, although Ms. Houghton across the street did invite me in for a Little Debbie oatmeal cookie. Comic book ad recovered in Bethesda, MD.

Trashball 070707: Original Polaroid Land Photograph

That's what it says on back. Can't say that it's the original. CONTEST: Best poem received rhyming "polaroid" with "hemmorhoid" wins a mystery prize. Photo recovered on Capitol Hill.